Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1887-11-23
9 Serial Stntg*
THE NINE OF HEARTS.

THE NINE OF HEARTS.
BY B. L. FARJEON.
PART TIE THIRD.
The information you give me in your
cable that Miss Mabel Rutland and Ed
ward Layton were once engaged to be
married is Of the utmost interest to me.
You will doubtless in your letters explain
more fully what you know, but do not
wait for letters from you. Time is too
precious for me to lose an hour, q mo-
ment. I feel confident, before you en-
tighten me upon this point, that / shall
ferret out something of Importance which
may lead to the end we both desire. I
may confess to you at once that the case
has to- complete hold of me, and that
without nny prospect OF monetary COM
pensation i should devote myself to it.
That Edward Layton Is bent upon sacri-
fcing himself in some PERSONS interests
seems to me to be certain. 1t would take
something in the shape of miracle to
convince me that he is guilty of the crime
of which he is charged. I have elected
myself his champion, and if it be in the
power Of man to bring him out Of his des-
perate strait with honor / resolve, with
all the earnestness of my heart and with
all the strength of my intellect, to accom-
plish it. The intelligence that Mr.. James
Rutland is uncle to the young lady to
whom Edward Layton was engaged may
be of use to me. I do not yet despair OF
obtaining useful information from him.
My inquiry respecting the nine of hearts
was not idly made. This particular play
ing card, which was found in the pocket
Of Layton's ulster, and of which he had
no knowledge, Is, am convinced, an i'm
portant feature in the case.
have already enlisted the services OF
three or four agents, and as I intend to
spare no expense, it may be that shall
call upon your bankers for further sum
Of money, which feel assured you will
not begrudge
Certain events are working in my favor.
OF those that do not Immediately bear
upon the matter shall make no mention,
but those that do shall find q record here.
For some portion of the day after my
interview with Edward Layton in prison,
was, apart from my practical work, en-
gagged upon the consideration Of the ques'
ton whether I should call upon Miss
Mabel Rutland, at 30 Lavender Terrace,
Cor,f1 7 xryoYt fhnro In n rQh
and reconnoitered the house outside, but
did not venture taenter it. 1t is one of
terrace of fourteen mansions, built in the
Elizabethan style. No person could af-
ford to reside there who was not in a po-
sition to spend couple Of thousand a
year. The natural conclusion, therefore,
is that Miss Rutland's people are wealthy.
That in the absence Of some distinct
guide or clew or information I should
have been compelled to present myself at
the address, for the purpose Of seeking an
interview with the young lady to whom
Edward Layton's letter was addressed,
was certain; but chance or destiny came
here to my assistance.
DR.. Daincourt called me at between 10
and II O'Clock in the night.
~ make no apology for this late visit"
he said; have something Of Importance
to communicate. When you spoke to me
last night about the jury you gave me the
list of names to look over. / glanced at
them casually, and gathered nothing from
them, until Mr.. Laing's cable message ar.
rived from Ameria That incident, OF
course, impressed upon my mind the
name of Mr.. James Rutland. 1t was
strange to me; was not acquainted with
any person bearing it. But it is most
singular that this afternoon was unex-
pectedly called into consultation upon q
serious Casa young lady, Miss Mabel
Rutland, who has been for some time in a
bad state. The diagnosis presents features
sufficiently familiar to specialist and
also sufficiently perpleXing Her nerves
are shattered; she is suffering mentally,
and there is decided danger"
'sMiss Mabel Rutland" said, mechan-
ically, living at 80 Lavender Terrace,
South Kensington.
"You know herr" exclaimed DR.. Dain.
court, in astonishment.
81 have never seen her." said, ''but
know where she lives"
'.Is she related" inquired DR.. Dain.
court, ito the one juryman who held out
upon Edward Layton's trial9'
"There Is nd need Of secrets between
u.s." replied; "but it will be as well to
keep certain matters to ourselves"
Certainly. will not speak of them to
any one. 1t is agreed that what passes
between us is in confidence"
''Miss Mabel Rutland is niece to the
Mr.. James Rutland who was on the
jury"
''That is strange" exclaimed DR.. Dain.
court.
every strange" said; "but snail be
surprised If, before we come to the end OF
this affair, we do not meet with even
stranger circumstances than that. Pro-
ceed, beg, with what you have to tell me
concerning Miss Rutland"
"Well," said DR.. Daincourt, "her
parents are in great distress about her. I
saw and examined her, and I am much
puzzled. There is nothing radically
disease; her lungs are sufficiently strong;
she is not in consumption, and yet it
may be that she will die. 1t is not her
body that is suffering. it is her mind OF
course was very particular in making
the fullest inquiries, and indeed she inter-
ested me. Although her features are
wasted, she IS very beautiful, and there
rests upon her face an expression of suf-
fering eNaltation and self sacrifice which
deeply impressed me. In saying that this
expression rests upon her face, am
speaking with exactness. 1t is not tran.
sient; it does not come and go. 1t is al.
ways there, and to my experienced eyes
it appears to denote some sxong trouble
which has oppressed her for q consider
able time, and under the pressure Of
which she has at length broken down.
could readily believe what her parents
told me, that there were times when she
was delirious for many hours"
"Has she been long ill?'' inquired
''She has been confined to her bed, =" re-
piled DR.. Daincourt, "since the 26th OF
March"
''The Goth of March," I repeated; "the
day on which Mrs. Edward Layton was
found dead"
Dr.. Daincourt started. II did not give
that a thought" he said.
"Why should you?" I remarked. II
may confess to you, doctor, that apply
almost everything hear to the case upon
which am engaged. Ishan surprise you
even more when ask you whether, dur
ing the time you were in 80 Lavender
Terrace, you heard the name of Edward
Layton mentioned?"
"No," replied DR.. Daincourt; ''his name